Here Are the 10 Cheapest New SUVs You Can Buy Right Now

Automakers have been rushing to fill their lineups with SUVs, and the subcompact SUV class has grown considerably as a result. Even though most subcompact SUVs don’t have much more passenger space than your typical small car — and many of them have even less cargo space — they do have the higher seating position, a more rugged look and available all-wheel drive, features many shoppers want at a relatively affordable price.

Related: Here Are the 10 Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy Right Now

So perhaps it’s not surprising that all 10 of the models in our cheap SUV list are subcompacts. They’re ordered by base price, from least to most expensive, and all prices include the SUV’s destination charge, but not any cash incentives or taxes. Prices and EPA combined fuel-economy estimates are for front-wheel-drive versions of all the SUVs except the Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-30, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport and Subaru Crosstrek, which come with standard AWD. All prices also include an automatic transmission.

Affordable subcompacts like the Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Venue may look like other subcompact SUVs and are marketed as such, but they don’t offer AWD, whose availability we required to make this list. (You can find the Venue on our companion list, the 10 Cheapest Cars You Can Buy Right Now.) Adding AWD to most of the SUVs below costs around $1,500-$2,000.

Cheapest New SUVs

1.  2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer LS: $23,395
2. 2023 Hyundai Kona SE: $23,475
3. 2023 Mazda CX-30 S: $24,325
4. 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport S: $24,595
5. 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross L: $24,945
6. 2024 Honda HR-V LX: $25,395
7. 2023 Volkswagen Taos S: $25,450
8. 2024 Kia Seltos LX: $25,715
9. 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Base: $26,290
10. 2024 Buick Encore GX Preferred: $26,895

1. 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer LS

Price: $23,395 (including $1,295 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 30 mpg

Introduced in 2021, the Chevrolet Trailblazer subcompact SUV is powered by a 137-hp, turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine and comes with standard front-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission or available AWD and a nine-speed automatic. The Trailblazer also comes standard with useful tech features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity and important active-safety features including automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning with steering assist.

2. 2023 Hyundai Kona SE

Price: $23,475 ($1,335 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 32 mpg

Hyundai updated the Kona for 2022 with new styling, more room and improved technology. For 2023, the Kona gets a price bump, knocking it down to second place among the most affordable SUVs. The 2023 SE’s standard CVT works with Hyundai’s 147-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and FWD, good for a combined EPA rating of 32 mpg. The 2023 Kona SE also gets an 8-inch dashboard display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, automatic emergency braking and hands-on lane centering. Hyundai’s Highway Driving Assist, which pairs more advanced lane centering with adaptive cruise control, is available only on the Limited trim.

3. 2023 Mazda CX-30 S

Price: $24,325 ($1,375 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 29 mpg

The AWD-only Mazda CX-30 gets some key powertrain and safety upgrades for 2023. The CX-30’s base S trim is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The CX-30 now makes 191 hp (up from 186 in the outgoing model), and its EPA-rated fuel economy also sees a boost from 26 to 29 mpg combined. The generous list of standard features for the S trim include an 8.8-inch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an eight-speaker sound system and push-button start with keyless entry. Standard driver-assist features include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights and adaptive cruise control.

4. 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport S

Price: $24,595 ($1,445 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 27 mpg

With a design that dates back to the 2011 model year, the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport was one of the early subcompact SUVs on that market, and it remains one of the most affordable. Mitsubishi has updated the SUV over the years, but it’s showing its age with a dated interior and unrefined drivability. Under the hood of the base S model is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which makes 148 hp and is paired with a CVT. AWD now comes standard across all trims. The S features a 7-inch center touchscreen, while a larger 8-inch display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto requires upgrading to higher trims. Standard safety features like automatic high beams, lane departure warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection can be found across all variants.

5. 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross L

Price: $24,945 ($1,335 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 32 mpg

Introduced in 2022, the Toyota Corolla Cross slots below the larger RAV4 in the automaker’s SUV lineup. As its name implies, the Corolla Cross shares a platform and powertrain with the popular Corolla compact car. That powertrain — a 169-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and CVT — is rated at 32 mpg combined with the base Corolla Cross L’s standard FWD. An 8-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity comes standard on the base L, as do advanced safety features like forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. We like the Corolla Cross’ standard features and available AWD, but power is modest for both city and highway driving.

6. 2024 Honda HR-V LX

Price: $25,395 ($1,295 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 28 mpg (2023 model)

Redesigned for 2023, the new HR-V sports a longer and wider exterior, a more powerful engine and improved safety tech. Aside from a small price bump, the 2024 HR-V carries over unchanged. The standard powertrain is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 158 hp (up from 141 horses in the previous generation) and is mated with a CVT. The power increase comes with a fuel efficiency trade-off, however, knocking the SUV’s EPA-rated combined mpg from 30 to 28 for FWD models. Standard on the base LX is a 7-inch center touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Honda Sensing system expands to all trims including the L, adding a front wide-view camera, traffic jam assist and traffic sign recognition to previously available features like forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and brake assist, lane departure warning and lane departure steering assist.

7. 2023 Volkswagen Taos S

Price: $25,450 ($1,295 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 31 mpg

Like the Corolla Cross, the Volkswagen Taos was newly introduced in 2022. VW’s smallest SUV is powered by a turbo 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 158 hp. With FWD, the engine is paired to a traditional eight-speed automatic and rated at 31 mpg combined; optional AWD swaps the eight-speed for a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The base S trim gets a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen and lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, which only comes standard on SE and higher trims. For 2023, the Taos adds standard forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking to its base trim.

8. 2024 Kia Seltos LX

Price: $25,715 ($1,325 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 31 mpg

The Kia Seltos is one of four SUVs on this list that makes AWD standard on the base LX trim; the next-higher S trim, curiously, has standard FWD and optional AWD. The Seltos LX is powered by a 147-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that works with a CVT. The base model’s long list of standard features includes 17-inch alloy wheels and an 8-inch touchscreen multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Following a refresh for 2024, the Seltos gets updated front-end styling and enhanced safety and tech features like blind spot collision warning, a speed limit assist and warning system, and enhanced forward collision avoidance assist.

9. 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Base

Price: $26,290 ($1,295 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 29 mpg

The redesigned 2024 Subaru Crosstrek brings a performance boost, plus interior and tech upgrades, yet the subcompact SUV’s starting price is nearly unchanged from the outgoing model’s. The base Crosstrek is powered by a 152-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder that comes with a standard CVT and AWD. Inside, dual 7-inch touchscreens replace the smaller 6.5-inch unit in the 2023 model. The subcompact SUV’s value is further enhanced thanks to the latest version of Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assist suite, which has been updated for smoother operations and a wider field of view.

10. 2024 Buick Encore GX Preferred

Price: $26,895 ($1,295 destination)
Combined fuel economy: 30 mpg

Like the Crosstrek, the Buick Encore GX is updated for 2024 and sees an unexpected price drop from the outgoing model. The base Preferred trim is powered by a turbo 1.2-liter engine that produces 137 hp and 162 pounds-feet of torque. FWD is standard along with a CVT; AWD and a nine-speed automatic transmission are available. The Encore GX’s exterior sees minor updates, while its cabin gets a redesigned dashboard with new tech like a 19-inch display that combines a touchscreen and digital instrument cluster under a single piece of glass.

More From Cars.com:

• Here Are the 10 Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy Right Now
• How We Found the Best Affordable Small SUV
• Best Cheap Sports Cars: Here Are Our Fave 14
• Car Affordability Calculator
• Car Loan Calculator

Related Video:

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.